Nationwide — LA Clippers Owner Donald Sterling is being criticized once again for making some controversial comments. This time, during a CNN interview with Anderson Cooper on his AC 360° show, Sterling repeatedly brought up Magic Johnson’s HIV-positive status and insisted that he was not a good role model for children.
At one point, Sterling cut off Cooper while he was talking and loudly ranted, “He’s got AIDS!” He then added, “What has he done, big Magic Johnson, what has he done?” At one point he seem to shift his mood a little bit when by calling him “a good person,” but then the criticism started back again.
He added, “He acts so holy. He made love to every girl in every city in America, and he had AIDS, and when he had those AIDS, I went to my synagogue and I prayed for him, I hope he could live and be well. I didn’t criticize him. I could have. Is he an example for children?”
Eventually, at one point during the interview, Cooper corrected Sterling, telling him that Johnson was only HIV-positive and did not have “full-blown AIDS.”
But apparently, Sterling was trying to make the point that the public has forgiven Magic Johnson for his past mistakes, and they should also forgive him (Sterling) for his mistakes as well.
But the public did not receive Sterling’s comments well at all. In fact, almost instantly he ignited a social media fire with fans criticizing his comments on both Facebook and Twitter.
Even NBA Commissioner Adam Silver jumped in. He released a statement saying, “I just read a transcript of Donald Sterling’s interview with Anderson Cooper and while Magic Johnson doesn’t need me to, I feel compelled on behalf of the NBA family to apologize to him that he continues to be dragged into this situation and be degraded by such a malicious and personal attack,” Silver said. “The NBA Board of Governors is continuing with its process to remove Mr. Sterling as expeditiously as possible.”
Meanwhile, Magic Johnson himself is scheduled to appear on Anderson Cooper’s show to respond to Sterling’s remarks.
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